Clinical and serological evaluation of Leptospirosis in Puducherry, India

Smita Benjamin Shekatkar; Belgode Narasimha Harish; Godfred Antony Menezes; Subhash Chandra Parija

doi:10.3855/jidc.384

Clinical and serological evaluation of Leptospirosis in Puducherry, India

Authors

Smita Benjamin Shekatkar Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry
Belgode Narasimha Harish Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry
Godfred Antony Menezes Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry
Subhash Chandra Parija Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.384

Keywords:

IgM ELISA, Leptospirosis, MAT

Abstract

Background: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution. There is a paucity of available data about prevalence of this disease in Pondicherry. Our aim was to investigate the seropositivity rate of leptospirosis in suspected cases and also to identify the predominant serogroups present by performing Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT). The other aim of this study was to compare the results of a commercially available IgM ELISA with that of MAT.

Methodology: A total of 110 blood samples from patients suspected of leptospirosis were sent for diagnosis. These samples were subjected to IgM ELISA and the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). MAT was done using a panel of 12 Leptospira serovars.

Results: MAT analysis of the 110 samples showed 40 (36%) to be positive. Antibodies were predominantly seen against serogroup Leptospira Icterohemorrhagiae (27%), followed by Pomona (17%), and Pyrogenes (12%). IgM ELISA done on these samples showed a positivity of 37% compared to MAT.

Conclusion: This study reveals that the MAT test can be standardized in a diagnostic laboratory and used in conjunction with an IgM ELISA.

Author Biographies

Smita Benjamin Shekatkar, Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry

Dept of Microbiology

PhD Scholar

Belgode Narasimha Harish, Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry

Professor,

Dept. of Microbiology

Godfred Antony Menezes, Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry

PhD Scholar,

Dept. of Microbiology

Subhash Chandra Parija, Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry

Professor and Head,

Dept. of Microbiology.

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Published

2010-01-04

How to Cite

Shekatkar SB, Harish BN, Menezes GA, Parija SC (2010) Clinical and serological evaluation of Leptospirosis in Puducherry, India. J Infect Dev Ctries 4:139–143. doi: 10.3855/jidc.384

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Issue

Vol. 4 No. 03: March 2010

Section

Original Articles

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